I was packing up the other night when I noticed this article in the printer bin at the Peace Center. White Grizzly was giving rattle smudgings and volunteering at the store that day, and must've left it there. The deaths at last week's sweat lodge were very disturbing to Peace Center staff and several of us sat in the coffee shop discussing how something so spiritually deliberate could go so wrong. Sure, we know that life is eternal, and it happened 2000 miles away....but when fingers start pointing to all practitioners of nondualist spiritualities or all use of Native American ceremonies by the general population, it is felt personally everywhere.
The article entitled "Lokota Nation Statement on Sweat Deaths in Arizona" is by Lakota Chief Arvol Looking Horse who talks about the difference between his people's purification ceremony and the commercialized sweat lodge. We join Chief Looking Horse in his deepest compassion for those families and loved ones for their loss.
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The Seeker moves on
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When I first launched The Seeker five years ago, I didn't expect to find answers or agreement. I intended to provide a forum to pose questions and spark conv...
4 weeks ago
I read about this situation initially from an email from James Ray since I subscribe to his list. Until then, I hadn't heard about it but, of course, his email made me most curious.
ReplyDeleteTo me, this is a situation that exemplifies the need for balance in all actions. It also represents the dichotomy of personal responsibility and societal/organizational accountability.
If I take the 10,000 foot view from a Law of Attraction point, which is what this group tries to embody, then all the individuals involved co-created the physical reality that played out.
As 'harsh' as it may seem, those who crossed over, those that developed dis-ease and those that provided the environment for it all co-created it. At any point, any one of the individuals, at a soul level, could have chosen a different path and a different outcome.
I do not say that lightly, for there are events in my own past that I would have gladly 'blamed' another for the 'misfortunes' that I attracted. But, in doing that, I would have missed the gifts that were within it.
Using the principles of LOA and then observing the results - ALL the results - are a part of the experience we are creating here on Planet Earth.
Yes, there is no 'death'. I believe that. But grief is here and so, I feel it is necessary to acknowledge what has happened, learn from it and help those who do not recognize the continuity of Spirit to embrace the value of what has happened. Perhaps those gifts are to learn responsibility, perhaps those gifts are to learn to live and love in the now, perhaps those gifts are to learn nonjudgment. It is for each of us to discern.
Only the souls involved can truly recognize the value of the situation. Those on the outside can grandstand about right/wrong; responsibility/accountability and the whole discussion of sacred ceremonies.
All cultures have had, at one time or another, traditions and ceremonies used for less than stellar purposes. Shall we chat about Halloween?
I remember when I was first introduced to SOM many years ago. I felt that some of the teaching lacked compassion because there was no apparent 'understanding' of the plight I faced. But, I realize now that in order for me to see the gifts, I needed someone outside of the situation to see the Truth. While she has passed from physical life, I know that she can appreciate my appreciation for a lesson I have finally learned - and is probably laughing about how long it took me to learn it.